When will we start preparing for the worst?

OTTAWA—When Russia attacked Ukraine, nearby countries were in shock. Some didn’t even react, although Russian sympathy may also be at play. But Norway took notice because they share 200 kilometres of border with Russia. It’s an unprotected border that looked remarkably similar to the Canada-USA border: you wouldn’t know it’s the border unless somebody told you. But no longer. The border was closed this past May to virtually all from Russia, and rumours fly that Norway is considering building a wall. Grade schools teach prepping as an act of civil responsibility in case of, well, anything. The young people learn how to prepare go-bags in case of emergency evacuation, and how to live off-grid if utilities go down. And just this past month, Norway started to stockpile food in case of war, pandemic, or climate change. One wonders how the debate went in the days or weeks that Norway realized that their neighbour to the East was no longer trustworthy. I wonder how this will go in our Parliament? We will no longer have a trustworthy neighbour come January. Chaos is the word used most often to describe what might happen south of the border for the next four years, and it will impact Canada, and not just in policy. When a leader steps over the line by an inch, his followers jump over the line by a mile. In the hours following the presidential election results, a type of purge started in the United States. Some of it was on social media by followers who heard the clear message that white Americans will be protected as a convicted felon is about to take office. Anonymous texts were sent to Black Americans demanding they report to plantations. Male youth in schools are mimicking the “your body, my choice” chant to refute women’s rights. There’s been a five-fold increase to LGBTQ crisis hotlines in the past week about harassment and fears of loss of human rights. Some of the purge is playing out in health care: we should prepare ourselves to read about more American women dying while pregnant due to unconstitutional restrictions to health care. Come January, human rights will no longer have the legal weight that we expect; at least, not for all Americans. American citizenship may not even have legal meaning if the National Guard is forcing an exodus. If it were just policy, we might have a fighting chance to predict how it will roll out. But it will not be just policy. Some of the Republican voters are ready to take matters into their own hands, and this is the chaos. Canada needs to drop the blinders and start thinking of the United States as untrustworthy, not only as our traditional protector on the international stage, but also untrustworthy as a neighbour. All the presumptions that we make about America as a partner must be questioned. While the economy will continue to take centre stage in quiet discussions on the Hill, it might be worth instead to focus on security and citizen preparation. The American civil service can’t be expected to hold back this black tide. Fund Canadian Black and LGBTQ organizations to prepare for those fleeing North, and change the rule that America is a safe country because it will not be safe for some groups. Increase federal-provincial-territorial tables and discussions to ensure a truly national response to protect the country. Boost defence spending, but don’t blow it in years-long procurement black holes. Boost Canada's Border Services to protect our border. Somebody should probably talk to Norway about how to prepare for chaos. It’s not like we have an international warmonger on our doorstep, but America will have an unstable government. History shows these situations are dumpster fires. Rose LeMay is Tlingit from the West Coast and the CEO of the Indigenous Reconciliation Group. She writes twice a month about Indigenous inclusion and reconciliation. In Tlingit worldview, the stories are the knowledge system, sometimes told through myth and sometimes contradicting the myths told by others. But always with at least some truth. The Hill Times

When will we start preparing for the worst?

Come January, we will no longer have a trustworthy neighbour. ‘Chaos’ best describes what might happen south of the border for the next four years, and it will impact Canada—not just in policy.

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When will we start preparing for the worst?

Come January, we will no longer have a trustworthy neighbour. ‘Chaos’ best describes what might happen south of the border for the next four years, and it will impact Canada—not just in policy.

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